The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-09-07

This was assented To with a yell and
Hawkins started 10 get up. | saw that |
had been included with the others and
that must crowd in my defense. ac-
corsiingly asked them 10 hold on and
! told my story. When | had finished a
short, thick-set man showed his big
hands little deeper into his pockets.
and said:
Gentlemen, 1 want to remark I've
heered that air story occasionally before
this, ~
This was greeted by loud laugh and
everybody agreed TO it.
But see here, Hawkins" / said, my
heart beginning to sink, You know me
=" you've seen me before
"Oh, reckon | seed We once he re
piled, without looking at me
Then you know that Pm not horse
thief"
Cant say that | do. saw We on a
steamboat a couple of months ago,
but horse thieves can ride on steam
boats.
Like nearly everything else this was
agreed to with loud applause. | saw that
my chances were growing desperate, and
used every argument in my power 10
convince them that was innocent The
men had fallen in with put in their fes-
tinlony in my behalf, but to no effect
They were especially anxious to see me
hang after one Of the committee closely
scrutinized me and identified me as Doc
Billings, one Of the leaders of the
gang.
He looks young but he's hard one, .
explained the man SO it was settled
that ! should hang with the Others. All
seemed to be in favor of carrying out the
sentence Immediately. Here Hawkins
rose and said
Gentlemen, it wouldn't be fair shake
fer the other boys-wait till mornin' till
they come in TO help. Besides, they may
bring in some more of the gang, an We
can string em all up together"
This was agreed to as readily as every
thing else, and we were taken TO an emp
~ log house a little distance from the
rest. and three men detailed TO guard
us
We were each given blanket, and
wrapped mine about me and sank down
in a corner with the most terrible feeling
| had ever experienced. Ny past life
came before me vividly and my mother,
and the home had 80 recently left with
out cause rose up before me and caused
me more bitter anguish than it seemed /
could endure. My companions, harden
ed by a desperate life and perhaps by
former hair-breadth escapes. conversed in
whispers for some time, and took it
very coolly. After some time the leader
said
Young feller, reckon ye got to dance
on air long with US"
Whether replied or not l do not re-
member, but he continued
I'm mighty sorry we got ye into it,
but We lowed we'd get way all right.
Ef they swing We, ies' Keep up and show
yer sand They say we're horse thief ;
act as if We was one. A feller can't die
but once"
And with this philosophical reflection
he rolled himself in his blanket, and
he and his companion were soon asleep.
tossed and rolled in the corner. un-
able to sleep, and, might almost say,
unaJle TO keep awake. felt dazed and
stupid
1t must have been o'clock when |
was startled by the door opening and one
of the guards stepping in. He came over
10 nav corner and told me to come out.
did 50, and as stepped through the door
| saw man on horseback, and another
horse saddled and bridled-
There's your hoss," said the man as
he leaned down from the saddle. and |
recognized his voice as that of Hawkins.
Get on, and II show you out o this. =
At first | could hardly comprehend
him. The prospect of deliyerance-and
that by the judge who sentenced me
fairly overpowered me. He warned me
to be quick, and scrambled on my pony
and rode away by Hawkins side, none
of the guards offering any resistance.
/ We rode for some distance in silence
Then Hawkins said
There's loose board in the floor, an
they'll think We got out there. can't
90 with yo very far, but | reckon We can
get away. Keep north o Yankton, an
don't show yerself to anybody if ye can
help it, skip lown into Ioway, an then
go home an stay there"
l"Ill do that, | replied, IF get away
That's all right is no country
for boys. Ye did NE little favor pickin'
up them chips on the boat that time an
( I'm willin' 70 do rs much FOR ye,"
Why, Hawkins. | can't tell you how
thankful am-but that was no favor /
| did on the boat-nothing at all, and
| this saving my life-look at the differ
/ erence.n
"Oh, that's all right-no difference at
allies what we both had chance to
! do. an neither of us couldn't do no more
| Don't say no more bout that ! knew
We didn't steal them hosses an didn't
want to see We hang fer it,"
But how did you know / didn't have
something to do With it after all .,
| Why. cuss it, ye see stole the HOSES
nyselfF'
"Yous"
/ Yes. me an some other feliers- We
cached 'em up ON Cbonteau creek an
! these Nebraska fellers tried to run EN- of.
| reckon the moral health o the eommu.
nifty demands that they swing
But was that crowd horse-that is
We're they all your friends 81
"Oh, no; some Of 'em were farmers
Ye see I'm cheerman of the Anti Horse
Thief Society, and ali my gang are prom
inent members We have to have in
some o the farmers an other people to
lend respectabitiy to the society, We
know, but I'm elected cheerman every
time, an We generally put the outsiders
in as vice presidents or something.
find my position mighty handy in my